Latest Squid Game-inspired online challenge leaves kids needing skin grafts

Just like the show, they attempt to carve a shape out of the dalgoda

The latest challenge going viral on TikTok is leading to serious injuries among young people. According to reports, the Squid Games-inspired Honeycomb Challenge is causing a spike in pediatric burns. For the uninitiated, Squid Game is a South Korean Netflix series that took the world by storm in September this year. Not for the faint hearted, the show sees a group of unsuspecting contestants fight for their lives in a tournament of kids' games, after falling on hard times. One of the games requires contestants to carve a shape out of a piece of honeycomb, known as dalgoda in South Korea. If they're able to carve out the shape without breaking the honeycomb, they move on to the next round. If they fail, they're eliminated. Spoiler alert — I don't just mean from the game. In real life, the Honeycomb Challenge is not quite so dark, but can still result in bad times. Players follow a recipe to create a DIY version of the honeycomb treat at home. Then, just like the show, they attempt to carve a shape out of the dalgoda without any of the pieces breaking. They may not face execution if it does, but plenty of people are ending up in A&E with bad burns instead. Following the recipe involves melting sugar at extremely high temperatures to make honeycomb. The sticky substance hardens once it cools, but until then, it's super hot and. in the wrong hands, dangerous. Because the honeycomb is piping hot once it comes out of the microwave or off the hob, kids are getting burned when they try to handle it. via GIPHY

Boy, 14, suffers horrific burns after attempting Squid Game honeycomb challenge as thousands of kids are injured following the TikTok trend https://t.co/TUbkS2sJNE

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) October 31, 2021

Kayvan Shokrollahi is deputy chair professor of the British Burns Association, and he recently told The Daily Mail: "The problem is that the boiling point of sugar is over 150 degrees and any spillage or contact of the syrup with skin causes much deeper burns. It sticks to the hands like glue after it's touched, so the honeycomb mixture has been taking the skin right off some kids' hands. "Burns services are seeing a spike in burn injuries following #squidgame and social media honeycomb trend. Many are requiring surgery to treat." The UK has reported multiple burn cases tied to the challenge since the show aired, prompting the British Burns Association to issue a public service announcement about the trend.

⚠️Warning ⚠️ Burns services are seeing a spike in burn injuries following #squidgame and social media #honeycomb trend. Many are requiring surgery to treat. pic.twitter.com/ZOlLkmGTVB

— British Burn Assoc. (@BritishBurn) October 20, 2021

Advice is, of course, don't try this at home.